"Optus is currently working with Google to provide an Android application store to our customers, and we are optimistic it will be available soon."

Except, of course, it shouldn't require any permission from Optus at all -- which is leading to reasoned speculation that Optus is blocking access to paid apps in the Android app store because Optus wants a cut of the revenue. This is typical of mobile carriers who keep wanting to believe that they're the tollbooth everyone needs to pay. Instead, the more likely result is just to drive mobile phone users to other carriers.

Kool-aid! Get your Kool-aid here! $0.25/cup!

Instead, the more likely result is just to drive mobile phone users to other carriers.
What other carrier? Are you trying to convince us these carriers have differing plans with differing prices without the same restrictions?

I've yet to see a single one anywhere *in the world*.

Who needs a damn monopoly when price fixing is much more lucrative except to the consumer.

Net Neutrality

I don't know how much of it is tollbooth related vs. not giving Google what it wants: net neutrality.

Let's be clear, Google ain't just sellin' ring tones -- they're bringing a platform that includes everything in a mobile carriers infrastructure less the cellular network. And on behalf of their shareholders, a wireless carrier ain't just tryin' to be a dumb pipe -- there's little growth in that.

And Google is an Advertising company which happens to be a key component of mobile commerce. Further, there has been aggressive competition and positioning in the mobile commerce space for a better part of a decade (who would know?), and mobile carriers have been, rightly or wrongly, counting on a slice of the pie.

That makes Google a potential competitor without touching Google Voice.

Let's be clear, I'm no fan of wireless cartels and their artificial markets. But I'm not sure I'd be so quick to allow Google unfettered access to "my" customers at this time without rights to Sergey's firstborn and compromising photos of Larry: there's just too much uncertainty at the moment.

And I think those of us focused on App store revenue are thinking way short-term; that's just a gate established by Apple, Google and others. With mainstream mobile computing taking off, in less than 10 years, mobile commerce will far exceed online-only advertising revenue.

Re: So does Rogers, in Canada

Net Neutrality

"With mainstream mobile computing taking off, in less than 10 years, mobile commerce will far exceed online-only advertising revenue." .... and somehow you think this justifies blocking value and content, thwarting the market unless it develops exactly according to their strategic plan?

One would think that the phone companies would be trying to innovate; for example, offering customers value that complements the paid apps. Instead they company is trying to tax the innovation of others.

The choice is not "dumb pipe" versus "toll booth". The choice is "dumb pipe" versus "innovation".

Re: Re: So does Rogers, in Canada

LG Eve - Cupcake 1.5 (can't root) on Rogers in Canada - cell radio off, wifi on connected to my home isp through my wireless network - STILL no paid apps on the market. Is it Rogers or Google that's treating us Canucks as second-class citizens??? Total BS!!!